If you use any sort of therapeutic boot on your laminitic or foundered horse, I think I’ve found a good solution to the problem of the inserts always wearing out.

I spent months testing material at a company called McMaster-Carr, and the 1/4-inch neoprene rubber appears to be a winner as a basic insert.

You can order online. The material is shipped the same day, so you likely will have it the next day. Return the product if it isn’t what you needed.

The right material needs to be thin enough that it doesn’t add weight to the boot but thick enough not to fall apart. It needs to have some cushion for sore horses but again not fall apart. And it needs to have enough stiffness that it won’t bunch up under the horse’s foot.

What worked perfectly for Robin in 2012 was a medium-strength neoprene rubber plain back, 3/16-inch thick, 12-by-24 inch and 40A durometer (which is medium soft) for $19.74.

The website is www.mcmaster.com, and you can order by phone if it’s too confusing.

I have since tried the 1/4 inch thickness in the same material and liked it, too. And when Robin’s feet got sore recently, we went with 1/2-inch thick neoprene foam on top of the thinner neoprene rubber.

I have no affiliation with this group. I love its service, and I’m not spending $10 to $70 for boot inserts when I can get eight for $20. I thought others might share my concern for the cost of equine boot inserts.